Jerusalem: Portrait of the City in the Second Temple Period (538 B.C.E. – 70 C.E.)

Glossary

417 Glossary am (ammei) ha-aretz Ordinary Jew(s), those not belonging to a religious sect. amora, arnoraic Rabbinic sage active in the talmudic period (ca. 200-500 C.E.). 'Aqedah The Binding ofIsaac. archisynagogus (archisynagogoi) Head(s) of a synagogue. archon Leader, ruler. arcosolium (arcosolia) Shelf (shelves) cut into the wall of a cave for placing a corpse. ashlar Rectangular block of hewn stone. 'Avodah Service to God, with specific reference to the Temple ritual. basileus King. Bavli Babylonian Talmud. bikkurim First fruits. boule City council. bouleuterion Council building. bullae Stamped clay seals affixed to documents. cavea Seats for a theater audience. cubit Half a meter, about nineteen inches. 418 demos Citizens of a city. dunam One quarter of an acre; one tenth of a hectare. ephebium, ephebion Institution for training Greek citizens. equestrian class Rome's middle class, usually men with business and commercial interests who were often appointed governors of small provinces. 'eruv Marks a boundary for carrying or traveling on the Sabbath. ethnarch Head of a people. ethrog (ethrogim) Citrus fruit used on Sukkot. gerousia Governing council of elders. golah Diaspora (literal), here refers to the Babylonian returnees. gymnasium Institution for training Greek citizens. haftarah Prophetic readings for Sabbaths and holidays. hallah Bread offering to the Temple. Haqhel Ceremony held in the Temple on Sukkot every seven years at the conclusion of a sabbatical year. havurah Religious association. hel Area surround the Temple Court(s). ketubah Marriage contract. kukh (kukhim), loculi Niche(s) cut into rock for primary burials. lulav (lulavim) Palm branch(es) used on Sukkot. ma'amad (ma'amadot) Division of Jews in conjunction with the priestly courses (mishmarot). ma'aser Tithe contribution, one tenth of an individua1's produce offered to the Temple. meridarch Seleucid official governing a small territory. miqveh (miqva'ot) Stepped cistern(s) used as ritual baths. mishmar (mishmarot) Division of priests into twenty-four courses. 419 MMT Qumran fragment detailing many halakhic differences between the sect and their Jerusalem adversaries. nasi Head of a group or sect. opus reticulatum Wall-facing composed of small square stones laid diagonally. ossuary Small stone coffin used for secondary burial. Pairs Early Pharisaic leaders, two in each generation. peha Persian governor. pilaster Rectangular column, often attached to a wall. polis Greek city. pozzolana A cement mixture used in Roman masonry. prozbol The right of a court to collect debts in the sabbatical year. sarcophagus (sarcophagi) Stone coffin(s) satrap Governor of a Persian province. satrapy Administrative division of the Persian Empire. Shephelah Coastal plain west of the Judaean hills. Simhat Bet Hasho'evah Water-Drawing Festival held at the Temple annually on the intermediate days of Sukkot. strategos Greek term for a military commander. tanna, tannaitic Rabbinic sage active before the early third century C.E. (i.e., the compilation of the Mishnah). taqqanot Halakhic decisions regarding public issues. targum Translation of the Torah into the vernacular (Aramaic or Greek). temenos (temene) Sacred area(s) surrounding the Temple. terra sigillata Red-glazed tableware used throughout the Roman Empire. terumah Offering to priests. Yerushalmi Jerusalem Talmud. ...